Spring Birdwatching Tours – 2023
This is a particularly exciting time of year to visit Norfolk for birdwatching. Many species are passing
through on migration, on their way to their breeding grounds further north. Our summer birds are returning
and activity levels are high, with lots of singing and display, which means that they can be at their most
visible. In the spring, many of the birds we see are also at their brightest which enhances the overall spectacle.
With such a variety of birds to see, these tours appeal to all interest levels and abilities.
Our featured birdwatching tours for Spring 2023 are as follows:
- Spring 1 Day Tour - April 15th 2023
- Nightingales & Spring Fens Tour - 6th May 2023
- Spring 4 Day Tour - May 11th-14th 2023
As usual, a wide variety of additional dates are available, both for guided group tours and
private customised birding days. Group tours will operate on most weekends through the spring, and additional
single weekday tours may also be available, subject to availability and demand.
We can sometimes offer the flexibility to pick only a single day, or choose shorter weekend or weekday bird watching breaks
from within the longer tours. Please check the itinerary for precise tour destinations and contact us for more
details.
Spring Birds
The first migrants start to arrive in the middle of March, but by April the pace picks up noticeably.
Ring Ouzels normally appear around the turn of the month, along with Yellow Wagtails,
then Whinchats, Redstarts and all the summer warblers. By the second half of
April, migration is in full swing and in the right conditions, numbers of migrants moving along the coast can
be spectacular. Nightingales arrive later in April and we may go out specifically to listen
for them singing their beautiful song at the end of the month and into early May.
Migration continues apace into May and this is the month when anything can turn up, given the right weather
conditions. Even into early June, the right conditions can bring falls of migrants. Amongst the
Redstarts and flycatchers heading for Scandinavia there could be Icterine
or Marsh Warblers, Red-backed Shrikes, possibly even a Bluethroat
or perhaps something even rarer. On previous Bird ID Company tours, participants have seen such exciting birds
as Hoopoe, Kentish Plover, at least 40 Black Terns,
Citrine Wagtail, Temminck's Stint, Collared Pratincole,
Dotterel, Montagu's Harrier and White-tailed Eagle.
Ring Ouzel – Norfolk, April 2016 ©The Bird ID Company
Tour Details & Prices
The main focus of the Spring Tours is on sites along the North Norfolk coast – this region is world renowned
for the variety of species which can be seen at this time of year. We will go looking for spring migrants and
vagrants, as well as taking the time to see the more interesting resident species and watch the activities of
the commoner birds which are present.
The Four Day Tours run from Thursday morning through to late Sunday afternoon with accommodation
from the Wednesday evening. This includes 4 nights B&B accommodation, all transport during tour days to and
from your base, guiding and packed lunches.
The Three Day Tours run from Friday morning through to late Sunday afternoon with accommodation
from Thursday evening. This includes 3 nights B&B accommodation, all transport during tour days to and from
your base, guiding and packed lunches.
Our basic prices are detailed below.
| Day Tours |
£60 per person per day includes all guiding and transport on the day
from a convenient meeting point.
|
| 2 Days / Weekend |
from £230/295 per person double/single includes 2 nights accommodation based on
Bed and Breakfast, all guiding, transport & packed lunch.
|
| 3 Days |
from £335/445 per person double/single includes 3 nights accommodation based on
Bed and Breakfast, all guiding, transport & packed lunch.
|
| 4 Days |
from £440/570 per person double/single includes 4 nights accommodation based on
Bed and Breakfast, all guiding, transport & packed lunch.
|
As all accommodation is booked to order, final pricing will depend on the availability of rooms at
the time of booking, and a single supplement may be payable. All tours are also available without
accommodation, and it is very easy to add extra nights if required. Please contact us for a quotation.
Prices are based on a minimum of four customers booked per tour. If there are fewer people booked,
pricing may have to vary by negotiation or the tour may not be able to proceed as planned.
The accommodation for tours is based at White House Farm B&B in the village of Hindolveston, well placed to
explore the north coast of Norfolk and the Broads and Brecks. However, we can usually arrange alternative
accommodation to suit your requirements and budget, if required.
To book a tour please select your preferred date from the tours on these pages or the
itinerary.
It is advisable then to contact us first to discuss availability. You will then be required to return a completed
booking form to us at the address shown. For guidance please refer to the
booking page.